Controller.



PATBNTED APR..21, 190s.y

A: T. CROUKER.

- CONTROLLER. APPLIoATIoN FILED AUG. 1, 1906.

. all @chem it may concerti;

.10 :improve lthe consti` .to- `Kris ajmaster controller for `ginferniiig'the fr operation of lthe motor controller. The- UNITEDSTATESPATENTFFICE#-1 P aernun fr. cacciata," orsuiiENEcTADY, *NEW` YORK, AssIGNo To voornielvv7 A conroRA'rroNoENEw YORK.

I .1 Beit known that LARTHUR T. Onocxnn, :ga-citizen oil the UnitedStates, residingl at ,Schenectady county of Schenectady, State, eroi New Yor have invented certainnewand usefullmprovementsin Controllers, of which thezollowing isa specification. j The presentinvention relates to controllers 4for electric motors, and has for its object to uction andoperation of .,:sufoh contro1lers- Y f l "f'ln an application filed by George H. `Hill. gon; August 13, 1906, Serial-No. 330,294', for improvements in control apparatus, there is.

`i5- disclosed and 'claimed a novel controller for .:,electric:motors, whereby a motor may be -gradually accelerated to any` desired speed vand be slowedA down gradu'a ly or abruptly, asrnay'be desired, from any one bf a plurality 201er stations, by simply pressing the' proper hfpush-button or other small sw1tch.

'il Elf Specifically considered, the present invention relates to the same`type of controller, `but comprises improvements in the actuating t t frneans for the controller to 'be hereinafter de- .frscribed and particularl'y.` pointed outin the claims. a f l y The accompanying drawing illustrates dia`` grammaticallysai motor and control system a 3o constructed and-,arranged in accordance rwith the present invention.

y1/Referring to the drawing," M indi cates a n i'otor oi any referred ty e4 arranged to be '-gcoiinected tot e source o current supply L fc-ins'eries with .more or less of the resistance Rf.

l C. is a controller of the separately-actdated ,eontact type"arranged togcomplete the mo,-

*.rgtpr @circuit and controlthe amount of resist-- :ance contained `therein. x

. ,-,\`.:II ia ster controller vcomprises lthe lmovable contact member 1, a series of iixed .contacts 2-.1-7., arranged in a row, `and the fixed con# `efrv1.31jflwand 15,-' respectively. Thus, as the movable contact membertraverses the fixed Qcontacts, the switches 9 and 10v are first .closed, thereby connecting the motor to the l source of 'current in series`.with all of the re- 55, sistencia then. as the movable memberof the sothat the piston 'may fall through the action of -gravity ,1f the" solenoid', 161 is dener" ized;

.GENERALV ELEornIc r JONTROLLER,

Patented Agni 21, 190s.

master 'controller continuesacross the iixed contacts, switches 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are closed in succession, the, closing of these switches eliminating the 4resistance -R from the motor circuit step by step, until, in the final position of the master controller, "where- 'in the movable -contact member engages con- 4 tacts' 8 and y7, the motor is connected 'directlyacross'the line. All thesejparts,` in. cludinglmotor, the main controller, and the 35- arrangement of contacts of the master conf troller ma take any desired forms, since they of 'themse ves constitute no partfof the present invention. 4 y The movable member of the master con- 70 troller-.is preferably operated by means'of a main solenoid I6, which is controlled in such a manner that the'inaster controller maybe operated stepby dstep-in either direction or be causedto return quickly 'to'theo posi' 75 tion, at thewill ofthe-o erator. l 17 is a receptacleiille withli' uid and having ytherein 'an open-'ended cy inder 18 in which operates apiston 19 connected tothe core 2'() of the-solenoid 16.

inder, this by-pass 'being controlled by a valve 2 2. When this valve is open, as shown, the liquid in the receptacle is vfree to circulate, I lSii When thevalve is closed, however, the, iquid Vcannot flow upward through it, and thepiston, therefore, cannotfall even though v.the

"solenoid 16 is denergi'zed. The movements ofI the'masterswitch are therefore governed In orderto simplify the circuits only one setofpush-buttons has beenillustrated, but it will be evi-dent that any desired number of control stations having du licate '.butto'ns may be used. Three contro ing switches or 'push-buttons 23, 24, and 25, which are re` 'spectively accelerating, retarding, and emer 100v gcncy vbuttons, may be' convenientlyused. f

Push-button 23 has connected thereto' a nor- -iuallyopenswitcli 26 in the circuit"includiI`1gsolenoid 16. ln series with the switch 26'is an' aixxiliim'yf switch 27 controlled by electlo-` `105 magnet 28. Thecircuit of electro-ma net28 passs through'the normally o en 'switch 29 operated by I )ush-button 23', t rough a nor`- mally closed switch 3.0 .associated -"with .the electro-magnet itselfand through an intrv119 21 is a by-pass between the ends ofthe cylbyonltrollingthe circuit of the main solenoid A l I I ',16' and by opening and closingthe valve 2 2,

Ll i

switch 3() is carried by a rod which rests uponu but is not'secured to the core of the solenoid 28, said rod being secured at its upper end to one of the members of an adjustab e dash-pot 45 which retards the falling of said rod with-V out interfering with its upward movement. rlhis construction of solenoid switch is well known and forms no part of my invention.

The interrupter comprises a series of connected-fixed contacts 32 to 38, inclusive, corresponding to the master controller contacts 2 to 7, an elongated contact 38 correspond-` ing-to the contact 8 on the master controller, anda movable contact 39 connected to the coreV 20. The movable contact inem ers of the interrupter and of the master controller, therefore, move in unison. The `contact member 38 is connected toline,l and contacts 32 to 38 are all connected in parallel to the circuit including the coil of .electro-magnet 28. 40 is an electro-magnet controlling the valve 22, and the circuit for this electro-,magnet passes through the interru ter 31, as in the case of electro-magnet 20, t rou h a normally closed push-button 24, andt rough a norm ally closed switch 4.1 associated With the core 42 of electro-magnet 40 and 'arranged in parallel with the push-button 24. The movable member ot' the switch 41 is carried by a rod. which rests upon the core 42 and is connected at its upper end to one member of a dashot 46 which retards the closing of the switcii 41 Without hindering Vits opening in a manner similar to that in which the switch 30 is controlled. When `the electro-magnet 40 is dener ized, its core rests upon a stem 43 connecte to the valve 22 and presses the Vvalve from its seat against the tension of a spring 44. When the electro-magnet is energized, the valve is held closed by the spring,

The operation is as follows: Assuming that the switch S is closed, then, upon pressing push-button23, a circuit is completed through the solenoid 16, causing the core of the solen- -oid to be drawn upward and carry with it the movable contact members ol th(` controller and of the interrupter. `When the master controller reaches the iirst operative position, so as to cause switches 9 and 1() ol' the motorcontroller to close, contact 39 of the interrupter engages with contact 32, and acircuit is thereupon completed .from the source through the interrupter, through the electro- Inagnet 28, and to the ground. Electromagnet 28, being thus energized, operates to open switches 27 and 30, thus breaking its own circuit and that of the main solenoid. ltwill be seen, however, that the electro-magnet 40 has also been energized, so as to cause its core to release the valve stem; thereby permitting thc valve to close and hohl the against downward movement while the main solenoid reuniins decnergizml.

As soon as the switch 27 has been closed by the droppin of the core of the'electromagnet 28, 1t t e button 23 is still pressed down, the circuit of the main solenold 16 is again complleted and the movable member of the contro er carrying the movable contact 39 beins to rise, this movement bein permitte by reason of the fact that vthe va ve'22 acts as a check-valve and permits the liquid toilow from the upper end f the cylinder down into the lower end. The dashot '45 is set to permit the switch 30 to closes `ortly after the core of the coil 28 has dro ped and closed the switch 27, but the switc 30 does not close until the movable contact 39 has moved upward suliiciently to break connection with the xed contact 32. The switch 30, however, closes before the movable contact 39 reachesthe fixed contact 33 so that when the contact 39 does reach the contact 33 a circuit-is completed as before from the interrupter 31, through the switch 30, coil 28 and switch 29 to ground. This causes the core of the coil 28 to rise immediately and break the circuit of the controller actuating coil 16 at 2 7, at the same time opening the switch 30 and interrupting the circuit throu h Vthe coil 28. The core of the coil 28, there ore, dropsnnd'the operation is repeated.- .In this way the-controller isk caused to rise step-by-ste it the button 23 is ,A

held ressed down. If t e button 23 is release at any time the master controller stop its movement and be maintained at the step at'WhiclLit then is, owing to the checkvalvev action of the valve. 22." The electromagnet 4() o crates intermittently, `hbt its operation is o ward movement of the master controller since the valve 22 does not retard the upward movement of the master controller under any condition.

It it is desired to stop the motor quickly, the emer ency button 25 is pressed and the circuit o electro-magnet 40 thereby interru ted, so thattherore drops and holds the va vc 22 open". ."Thc weight of the core 20 and attached parts is sulicient to cause the movable contact member of the master controller to be quickly brought to the off position when the valve 22 is thus held open.

Assuming that the master controller is in one of its runnin positions, for example, that osition in w lich the movable contact ii'nem er 1 is in engagement with the iixed contacts 5 and 8 andthe movable contact 3 9 no consequence during the ripis in engagement with' the ixed'ccntacts.

and 38', and that it is desired to inov'e the master lcontroller backward one step, this may bc accomplished asfollows: Thepushbutton 24 is lepresscd thereby interrupting the circuit thrrough the coil 4() which has been receiving'A current from the line through emergency button 25, contact 38', movable contact 39, contact 35 of interrupter 31fanil through the push-button 24. The denergi-v zation oflthe coil 40 'allows the core.' 42 to.

drop therebyopening the valve 22 and allowing the. liquid to How from below thefpiston 19 toabove it.

' The rod u on which the movable member of the sWitc 41 is .mounted is retarded in its dropping by means of" the adjustable dash-pot 4 6 in a manner similar to. that in `which the switch 30 isretarded in its closing movement. Assoon as the valve 22uopens, the master switchbegins to descend and the. movable contact 39 leaves the lfixed contact 35 thereby interrupting the circuit from thet interrupter 31to the pusliebutton 24l and making it'permissible to release the push-` .buttoii'"24.' Itis obvious, therefore, that if itis desired to move themaster lcontroller backward 'but one'stepit is only` necessary to depress rtlie push-.button- '24 momentarily, The switch 41 closes'wliile'ftlie movable contact 39 is falling from-the fixejd contact 35 to fixed contact v34, and when the contact 39j engages With the #contact 34 a circuit is conipletedto thelooil V40, throughv` the switch 41 and also through the push-button 24,"pro' lvided thathas beenreleased. The energize-.

tioirof the coil 40 causes thecore 42-to rise'- j-'and permits the valve 22 to 'close thereby f stoppingthe downward movement "of "the masteri'controller. If theY posh-button y24 lhas been maintained depressed thecircuitthrough the c oil 40 Willbe interrupted at the 'switchlil andv the core 42 will dropfandthe 'Vo erationsqust describedl re eated.- "From 35 1 button 24 depressed the master'switch may i be caused lto move step-'by-step' froinany Althoii'glf'I have` described one modi? fication of my tinvention, namely, tl'ie'vpreferred embodiment thereof,- I do. not ,desire to `be limited to the particular. modification shown, since in' its', broaderA as ec'ts my in vention covers also; various ot er` modifi tions, as vwill be'evident from 4appendedclaims. 5 'f Wliat I claim asjn'ew, and desiretos'ecure by Letters Patent of the .United States, isff` 1. In combination, a `controller.havingja` pluralityof operative positions, -a'sol'eri o1d; aj solenoid core for actuatingl said( controller,

and means for energizing said "solenoidl and for automatically denergizingji-tf and --agaiiil energizing it atpredeterminedpoints inthe 455 erative points 'of the controller.

travel of the'core 4corresponding to said vop- 2. In combination, a-controller having a plurality of operative positions, a solenoid, a

-it a,

solenoid core for actuating said controller,

means for energizing said solenoid. and

means for automatically de'e'nergizing the solenoid at. predetermined points in the travel of the said corev and again energizing redetermined' interval of time after each dienergization.A l

having a plurality of operative positions, -a

energizing said solenoid and again energiz-4v` sai(i Amember.

having a pluralityof operative positions, al

`trolled by said master s vvitclnfo'r 'energizing gizing itand again energizing'it fwhen the;

operative positionsof thesaid member;

solenoid having; a core 'for actuatingf said..

energizing it when the core reaches positions member to pass through any 4desired nuni- .ber of its operative positions ste by step. K

6` In combination, a Inova le memberv vhaving a plurality of operative'positions,"a

for' energizing said `solenoid 'and for auto- 'matically denergizing it and again energizingit when the core reaches positions corren said member, and'me'ans'for holding.- said core stat-ionaryduring the said periods of deenergizatiop ofthe solenoid.-

` In' combination, a"solenoid, a core'forI said solenoid, 'arelay controlling 'the solenoid circuit, an interruptor connected .with said core-for energizing the relay at predetermin'edipoint's'in the travel of the core,v and meansv associated with the relay for. interrupting the rel of,;t`he relay. i, Y, f8. lfnr combination, asolenoid,a.relay for liiected with said core for causing the relay to determined points inthe travel of the/core,

4aild.means associatedfwith-V said rela for,

causing it/toresume the' position forc osin the solenoid' circuit after it; has been cause to. operate, by the interru ter.

i). vIn com ina'ti completing `a circuit through said solenoid, av

ciated with said core for energizingasaid rey'lay at predetermined points' in 1the travel of said core' to cause the relay toppen the solen` 1` said solenoid and for'automatically)dener-f" core reaches positions corresponding to 'operate to open the solenoid circuit atpre'- core for said solenoid, an interrupterasso-:-

3. In combination, a `movable member I' solenoid having a core for actuating member', and means forautomaticallyjldeing it when the core reaches positions corre# spending to said operative positions of 'the i1-"In combination, a movable member Y 75 `solenoid having a core foractuating said` member, a master switch, and means coli-.Q

solenoid having a core fQr actuating Said, .4

vmember, said corehaving a tendencyto a `move -out of the field of the solenoid, means .spending 'to thesaid `Operativeposition of. .f

iio.

y circuit, uponjthe operation 1115* 'completing4 a'oircuit' through the solenoid, a l core for-the' solenoid, an' interruptor conon; a` so enoid, a relay. for 1.225 1 `oid circuit, and nieans associated with the gize said solenoid at points in the travel of the core corresponding` to said operative positions ol` the controller, and means asso elated with said relay lor causingr it to energize the solenoid again alter muli sufi ilvni ergizatioii.

ll. `ln combination :i controller haring i plurality oic operative posiiioiis. a soisniiii i e. solenoid Core for aeiuualing?T seid f onirelleiz a relay for coniiolliner the circuit ol said soleilsoid. an interiupter associated with said Core and arranged to Cause the relay to ileuirgize said solenoid at points in the trawl of the core corresponding io said operative po sitions of the controller. end ineens associated with said relay Vlor eaiisiiiit to ei gize the solenoid again :i predetermined linie after eiieli siii-,li ileiiiit'ization.

l2. ln eoiiiliinaiion7 a controller liayiiie' away i'roni the ""ell"7 piifsitioni-i'lieii the solenoid is energized and toward thel "en position when the solenoid is denergized, a relay for controlling the circuit of the solen oid, an interrupter associated with the Core and arranged to cause said relay to operate to denergize the solenoid atpoints in the travel of the core corresponding to said op eratiye positions ol. the eontrollerJ inea-ns associated with said relay for causing it to energize the solenoid ege-in after each such deenergization, a second relay, and means associated with the latter rela-y for controlling the movement of the controller toward the "otl. position.

13, In combination, a controller, a solenoid, a solenoid core for actuating said eontroller away from the 01 position when the solenoid energized and toward the oli position when the solenoid is deneigized, a sxi'iteli and rneens controlled thereby for causing the solenoid and eore to move the eentioller step hy step away from the f oil position, a second siviteli and nieans controlled 'thereby for causing the core to niove the controller step by step toward the oil position. and e third switch 'for permitting the foie to return the controller toward the off po. ition by a continuous movement,

iii witness yifhereol", I have hereunto set oy lmnd this 31st day ol' July. 1906. plurality olv operative positions. u solenoid i solenoid core tor artualiiigg said controller l i i l l AflTl-lllli 'l @ROCHER li'ivii'nesses:

BENJMUN B. llL'LL. GRACE M. l-liixii'iliii'. 

